Rosario Margarita Ortiz

“I know I will be in heaven soon. I received my invitation.” Rosario Margarita Ortiz gladly accepted that invitation on June 17th, 2021. In her dream, Rosario wore a beautiful princess cut gown. Jesus met her at a table prepared for her with many guests and she was the bride of Christ.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, June 25, 2021 at 10:00 AM at her beloved St. Francis Catholic Church with Rev. Fr. Isidore Ochiabuto, officiating. Interment will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park under the direction of Elliot-Hamil Funeral Home. The family will receive friends for a visitation on Thursday evening, also at the church, beginning at 6:00 PM until the Rosary at 7:30 PM.

Just as the Litany of the Rosary holds many names of high honor, so does our mother Maria del Rosario, Chayo, Mami, and Wela. Collective words to describe her: intelligent, joyful, unity, and purity.

Rosario was born in Sabinas, Coahuila in 1943 to Guillermo and Maria de Los Angeles Quintanilla. She was the "coyota" (baby) of 16 children. At the tender age of 17 she briefly explored the New Frontier, Abilene, Texas. She later returned with her husband, Antonio Ortiz, to make it her final home from 1978-2021. Rosario was a fearless pioneer who paved the way for hundreds to follow in her footsteps in search of the "American Dream." Together with her husband Antonio, they have gathered a plentiful harvest consisting of 4 beautiful children; Juan Ortiz (children, Micheal, Ivette, Janie, Adrian, and Mariah), Connie Ramon (husband Jesse, children Krista, Asia, Jesus, JohnLuke, Ave Maria, and Abigail), Francisca Rodriguez (husband David, children Rivers, Giselle, Levi, Thomas, John Paul, and Grace), lastly Tony Ortiz (wife Claudia, children Marc, Jazlyn, Matthew, Jacob, Joshua, Mary, and Bella); as well as 17 great grandchildren (and still growing)! She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Antonio Ortiz, and siblings Santa Conception Quintero and Sara Colon. She was preceded in death by her parents; her son Juan Ortiz; and 14 siblings.

Perseverance, a trait that followed her to her last hour, she exemplified in all areas of her life. She dedicated 35 years of faithful service to Cintas Linen Service working, as many have described, “like a woman half her age.” Together with her husband, they loved to travel. They never forgot to frequent her loved ones, which is why she reaped so many visitors on the days she no longer was able to travel.

God-given gifts of singing and dancing, is how many loved ones remember her greeting them when they walked in the door. She won God’s favor with the joy she shed through her singing, dancing, and acting, while an active member of her church youth group ministries.

Rosario was a “MacGyver” homemaker that could fix anything broken around her house. She was always prepared for guests with quilts she sewed, blankets she knitted for winter, crocheted tablecloths, with matching coasters for special occasions, and needling keepsakes for the new babies. These were some of the few times she stood still. Rosario was in constant motion, although difficult because of the era she grew up in, she often snuck away to play volleyball with her schoolmates. She amazed us with this faculty until the very end.

“Salt of the earth,”but the greatest of these gifts was her perfect touch of spice in the kitchen. Her kitchen always overflowed with little tummies to fill, yet all left lacking nothing. “Wela” often arose at 3:00 am to make menudo so her entire family could join her at the table after morning Mass.

Rosario’s legacy was passing down her love for Jesus through Mary in the rosary to all members of her large family in her native language, Spanish. Her husband and children walked her down the aisle to be espoused with Jesus, her new groom. It is with great honor that we entrust her into the hands of her new groom, Jesus.

The gift of faith is timeless, impenetrable, the bond that holds us all together until we reunite in Heaven….”Juega el Pollo,” with much love until we meet again.